BDD, or Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a preoccupation or obsession with a
defect in visual appearance, whether that be an actual slight imperfection or
an imagined one. Some example of this would be obsessing to the point of
severe depression (sometimes including thoughts about or attempts at suicide)
over physical attributes such as freckles; a large nose, blotchy skin, wrinkles,
acne, scarring. Though the preoccupation can include any part of the body,
areas of the face and head, specifically the skin, hair and nose,
are most common.

People suffering with BDD may often have a low self-esteem and unreasonable fears
of rejection from others due to their perceived ugliness. Some victims realize that
their perception of the "defect" is distorted, but find the impulse to think about it
uncontrollable.

There are two types of Body Dysmorphic Disorder -- the non-delusional type -- and the
delusional type (where a victim actually has hallucinations of a completely
imagined defect, or an imagined gross exhageration of a small defect). The delusional
form is less common and more severe.

Men and women living with BDD may practice unusually compulsive rituals to look at,
hide, cover and/or improve their defect(s). They may spend a great deal of time
looking at themselves in anything mirror-like and trying to convince others of how
ugly they are. They may be compulsive in searching our doctors to treat them
with medications and/or plastic surgery. Patients may go to any lengths to
improve their appearance, including using methods that are dangerous. Some may
even attempt their own surgery, or commit suicide.

Mental Illnesses that sometimes co-exist with BDD are depression, Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder (OCD) and Social Phobia.

Treatment is often difficult, but there has been shown progress with medications
such as Prozac, and cognitive-behavior therapy. Diagnosis can often be difficult because of the
patients shame (causing them to keep their symptoms a secret).

It should be noted that Orthorexia Nervosa is not a condition that a physician will diagnose, as there is no clinical guideline for this disorder. It is a condition that has been observed as an extreme pattern of dietary purity and has not yet been defined under the clinical diagnostic manual (DSM-IV).

Orthorexia Nervosa is an obsession with a "pure" diet, where it interferes with a person's life. It becomes a way of life filled with chronic concern for the quality of food being consumed. When the person suffering with Orthorexia Nervosa slips up from wavering from their "perfect" diet, they may resort to extreme acts of further self-disipline including even strictor regimens and fasting.

"This transference of all of life's value into the act of eating makes orthorexia a true disorder. In this essential characteristic, orthorexia bears many similarities to the two well-known eating disorders anorexia and bulimia. Where the bulimic and anorexic focus on the quantity of food, the orthorexic fixates on its quality. All three give food an excessive place in the scheme of life." (Steven Bratman, M.D., October 1997)

As noted by BeyondVeg.com, Orthorexia Nervosa should only be characterised when it is in the long-term (paying attention to healthy food for a few weeks where it becomes a normal and healthy routine not obsessed over, would not be considered a disorder), when it has a significant negative impact on an individual's life (thinking about food to avoid the stresses of life, thinking about how food is prepared to avoid negative emotions, thinking about food the majority of each individual's day), and where food rituals are not better explained by something like religious rites (such as in the Orthodox Jewish religion).

It should be noted that Bigorexia is not a condition that a physician will diagnose, as there is currently no clinical guideline for this disorder. It is a condition that has recently been observed by several psychiatrists as the "opposite of Anorexia".

Found typically in body-building circles and known as muscle dysmorphia or reverse Anorexia, Bigorexia is a condition in which the sufferer is constantly worried that they are too small. This goes beyond the typical body-building gym-goer, and transcends into dangerous realms when men and women are willing to go to all lengths to increase muscle mass. Dr. Harrison Pope, of the McLean Hospital, says, "there's nothing inherently pathological about being an avid gym-goer, but it shouldn't take over your life." In likening Bigorexia to Anorexia he comments, "They are both disorders of body image, the preoccupations simply go in opposite directions."

Muscle dysmorphia isn't as acutely life-threatening as starving yourself, Pope says, but its victims are more likely to take other risks with their health, such as using steroids or other bodybuilding drugs. One muscle dysmorphic woman was hospitalized for kidney failure, brought on by her high-protein diet and steroid use. Within months of her release from the hospital, she was back on the drugs and unhealthy diet. (ABC News, Claudine Chamberlain)

Harrison Pope and several other researchers put together this set of criteria for diagnosing muscle dysmorphia:

The person is preoccupied with the idea that their body is not lean and muscular. They spend long hours lifting weights and pay excessive attention to diet.

This preoccupation causes major distress or impairs the person's social or professional life. The person may forego important social, work-related or recreational activities. They may avoid situations where their body will be exposed. The person continues to work out or diet even when they know it could hurt their health or well-being.

The focus of the person's concerns is on being too small or not muscular enough, as opposed to concerns about being fat.